Resilient wheel



pr 29, 1924., ,4f92, 08

J. F. MILLER RESILIENT WHEEL 2 Sheets-.Sheet 1 Feimrm 19. 192s @aug A7if@ man?, attozwuj,

April 29 1924.

J. F. MILLER RESILIENT WHEEL Filed March 19. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheer?, 2

JI i' M1111 er Patented Apr. 29, 1924.

JAMES F. MILLER, OF MINDSEN, LOUISIANA.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

Application filed March 19, 1923.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES F. hirnnnn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Minden, in the parish of Webster and State of Louisiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Resilient Wheels,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spring wheels and has for its object toproduce a novel form of wheel of such construction that the resilientspokes will be eectually reinforced and enabled to support a heavilyloaded vehicle. Another object of the invention is to provide a novelconstruction whereby displacement of the spokes will be prevented, and astill further object of the invention is to provide a construction whichwill facilitate the assembling of the spokes with the rim and the hub.Other incidental objects of the invention will appear in the course ofthe following description.

The objects of my invention are attained .in such a wheelvas isillustrated in the accompanying drawings and in said drawings, Figure 1is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a wheel embodying myimprovements;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

50 Fig. 3 is a view showing members of the hub in perspective:

Fig. l is a. longitudinal section through a portion of the rim,particularly showing the manner of attaching the outer ends of thespokes to the rim;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a cap employed in connection withthe outer end of the spoke, and

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view showing 'w one construction forretaining the end of the spoke in the hub.

The hub includes a sleeve 1 which, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, ispreferably constructed in two members threaded together whereby it maybe adapted to a spindle or axle of any standard length. Carried bythesleeve 1 between the ends thereof is a body 2 which is preferably castintegral with one member of the sleeve. and this body is formed withradial projections 3 adapted to fit between the inner ends of adjacentspokes, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. While the number of theseprojections is, of course,

` determined principally by the load the wheel w is designed to carryand by the size of the wheel, they are substantially triangular inSerial No. 626,099.

outline and the complete body has the ap pearance of a star, afive-pointed star appearing in the present instance. ln the anglesformed by the inwardly converging adjacent edge surfaces of adjacentpoints of the star, I form sockets 4 in which the terminals of thespokes are engaged, and preferably, the spokesterminate in central teethor spurs 5 so that, when they are engaged in the said sockets orrecesses 4, the spokes will be disposed centrally of the hub body andwill not project beyond either side of the same. The end portions 6 ofeach spoke converge toward the hub sleeve, as shown in Fig. 1, so thatthey lie flat against the surfaces of the points 3 and to retain the endportions of the spokes in position upon the hub and prevent lateraldisplacement thereof, I provide the caps or cover plates 7 which havethe same outline as the hub body and are constructed along their edgeswith the inwardly projecting flanges 8 adapted to lie upon the outersurfaces of the endportions 6 of the spoke. as will be readilyunderstood. The flanges will preferably abut, as shown in Fig. 2. andthey are'` secured rigidly to the hub body by bolts 9 inserted throughopenings provided there for in the caps and in the hub body. as will bereadily understood.

The spokes are' constructed of resilient metal straps or bars andpresent the bowed portions lO'from which the end portions 6 extendinwardly` the sides of each spoke eX- tending'inwardly, as shown at 11.from the bowed portions 10 and being turned outwardly, as shown at 12,on the central radial line of the spoke so that a heart-shaped iiglureis defined by each spoke. The outwardly turned portions 12abut, as shownat 13, im- Inediately adjacent the inner edge of the central rib 14 ontherim 15 and are then carried in opposite direct-ions and convergeupwardly to forma substantially triangular head or loop 16. This loop orhead islongitudinally slotted or notched, as indicatedat 17, whereby itsside portions may tit against. the rib 1/1 at opposite sides of thesame, and lips 18 will be produced at the base of the triangular head toengage notches 19 in the rim and thereby prevent displacement of theouter ends of the spokes. To further secure the spokes in place, Iprovide the caps 20 which consist of ysubstantially triangular plates ofproper size to fit closely againstthe triangular heads 16 and providealong their' edges withinwardly projecting ianges 2l toy engage aroundthe side portionsof thehead. as clearly shown in Fig. 2. A clamping bolt22 is inserted transversely through the rib la and through openingsprovided therefor in j the side plates of the caps so as'tosecure ksevportion of the hub consists of two members rhavin@f threadedengagement.r

Y than the arrangement shown in Fig. l and previously described,inasmuch as the terminals of the spokes are disposed at an angle tothe'normal line of pull but either arrangement may be used at will. j

As previously stated, the central sleeve This construction isshownclearly in Fig. 2, and obreceive the axle' spindle. By rotating thein- `ner section 25 of the sleeve, said section will viously the boresof the two sleeve sections are of the'same diameter so as to properly becaused to ride into or out of the outer section and 'it may be thus setto ,give the hub sleeve any desired working length so as'to conform tothe vlength of the axle spindle. The outerend of the section 25 isconstructed with an annular-stop fiange 26, as clearly shown, which willlimit the inward movement of the said section by abutting against vthe.end of the outer section so that the hub sleeve will have a fixedminimum extent. `Throughthis flange 26, annotch' or opening 27 is formedand, to secure the said Vsection in alixed relation to the relativelystationary section, a screw 28 is engaged through'the opening into'thebody of the relativelytixed section sothat, if'the'saidV screw'be turnedhome with its outer end resting within the said opening, the furtherrotationof the adj ustable section will be prevented. Y

i It is thought'from the'foregoing description,.ta'ken in'connectionywith the accom- "panying drawings, that it vwill be readily VseenthatI'have provided a very simple and strong wheelrwhieh will have easyriding i Pneumatic tires, however, may be used upon` my wheel and asresult of the use of such tires combined with the resilient qualities ofthe wheel itself, a very easy riding vehicle may be produced. The tireis, of course, secured upon the rim between the side flanges thereof inthe usual or any preferred manner. l

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. In a resilient wheel, the con'ibination of a rim, a hub body havingradially extending portions, resilient spokes having outer head memberssecured to the rim and inner end portions bearing against the opposededges of adjacent radially projectingfportions Vof the hub, and capssecured to the sides of the'liub body and having inwardly projectingmarginal 'flanges extending over and bearing upon the end portions ofthespokes. Y

2.,In a resilient wheelythe combination of a'rim, a hubv body havingradially'extending kportionsand provided at the bases of said portionswith sockets, resilient spokes secured at their outer ends to thejrimand khaving 4their inner end portions 'bearing against the opposed edgesvof adja'cent'radially extending portions of they hub body andconstructed with terminals Vfitting in the and caps se' sockets at thebase of the body, Y cure'dto the sides of the hub'body'and' providedwith marginal flanges extending'over "theendv portions of the spokes.

3. In a resilient wheel,1 the lcombination of ajrim,'a hubhavingradially extending tapered portions,v resilient spokes having outercentral portions vand Yportions- 'ext-ending in opposite directionsfromsaid'centralponV tions eircumferentially of the 'rimybowed portions fconnected 'with said circumferentially extending portionsandfiinwardlycon- :verging inner :end portions lying against the opposedsurfaces'of adjacentA radiallyl eX- tending portions of the hub, meansforf securing'sai'd inner endzportions of they spokes to the hub, andymeans for-securing the outer portions of the spokes to the rim.

I In testimony whereof' I affix my signature.

`JAMBES/F. MILLER. f [ns1]

